Very interesting read from a user interface point-of-view. I stumbled upon a walkthrough of Windows Vista. An interesting perspective here is that the search field has gotten a prominent position on the Start menu itself.

The start menu has evolved in Vista. At any time one can type search words, resulting in Search-As-You-Type functionality. This search leverages the broader search functions built into Vista. It functions in a very similar fashion to the MSN Desktop Search deskbar – but is integrated directly into the Start Menu. It is actually quite useful, and newly created documents appear to get indexed almost immediately. For example, after copying some Word documents into the Documents folder, they were available for search immediately. Since the start menu can be activated with the start button, one can actually perform a search and select a search result, all without touching the mouse or opening any new windows. Quite slick. Pressing enter opens a full search results window.

Search is a big addition, and its nearly inescapable omnipresence throughout Vista point toward Microsoft’s emphasis. The fact that all of these search boxes can also search the Internet with MSN Search also paints a fairly dangerous-looking picture for Google.

My comment: It doesn’t matter if you call it Find-as-you-type or live search or autocomplete. Live search is getting big and perhaps ready for broader mainstream acceptance.

Previously, Live search has been implemented in multiple desktop and web applications.

The browser address bar autocompletes as you type based on the web adresses you previously typed.

Windows XP file manager autocompletes when you open a new file from an application.

When is Live search ready for mainstream

As we see more and more Live search being implemented in real-world web applications, it’s obvious that users will get used to searching without pressing a search button.

When users start suggesting live search, and wondering “why don’t they use find-as-you-type”, then it’s ready for mainstream. How we get there? I guess somebody has to implement to start the trend. Google is well on the way already.

This entry was posted by Jesper Rønn-Jensen
on Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 at 17:49 (GMT-1) and is filed under Search Engines, Usability.
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Once again, Microsoft develops almost an exact copy of a feature pioneered by Apple and proclaims its status as an innovator. Not only is the search identical to Mac’s Spotlight, even its location in Vista is philosophically similar to that in Apple (where you click on a magnifying lens icon on the upper right hand corner of the screen which generates a pull-down menu with the search box as well as the list of found objects).

I just wish Windows testers would first check out any feature introduced on Vista first on the Mac to find out whether there already exists a precedent.

AngryAnt and Murli. Thanks for your comments. I was not aware that Apple has already done (almost) exactly the feature I refer to. And you’re right that it’s really not innovation by Microsoft (they seem to copy a good idea).

The point I really try to make is not who’s first but when live search will be commonly accepted as the prefered way of searching in web applications. The tipping point is when (a considerable number of) user tests on traditional search interfaces will reveal suggestions for live search.

Hi Jesper,
When in awe about innovation, you should really consider looking other places besides Windows and Office blogs.. It has been long since really exciting things came from that direction. The exiting thing about releases from Microsoft is just that those ideas finally hit the mainstream…

User behaviour and usage statistics are important when published by Microsoft (although sparse) because of the huge install base, but the interesintg responses that data is often coming from others.

Mads, thanks for your comment. This is not about innovation, and I agree with you totally that there are better places to look for innovative solutions.
On projects, I have often seen and heard arguments such as “it must work the same way that office does it”.

My point here is that Windows Vista will expose the Live search feature, no matter who invented it.

This should not be about who pioneered a technology or a feature. Itshould be a bout providing usability and ease to millions of people out there who whethere they want it or not end up with vista when they buy a new pc. In my opinion whatever the improvement is I will take it.

Whatever it may be Microsoft is the best.The produce best OS for home users.More user friendly and ofcourse a great look.So is Vista.My heart. I purchased a brand new PC worth around $1400 just to experience vista.It’s my dream OS.Looking forward for Windows 7

Vista is a much better OS compared to XP. But because of the compatibility issues with a lot of software that I often use I had to uninstall Vista and install XP on my new laptop. I hope more and more software are updated to be compatible with Vista so that we can have a chance to fully experience Vista.

How to search this way in Vista Home Premium or Windows XP Pro: I am in a website. A long document is present. I want to find the one word that is supposed to be there, elegy. I don’t want to read the whole thing to the reference to “elegy”.